What's a good year? Or one to avoid?

[tahoefirst]

I'm considering buying a used Tahoe, from years 2000-2006.
Is there a particular year that is better than the others?
What about transmission, how long can I expect it to last, any warning symptoms to look out for?

What's considered too high milage?

I know about some issues that seem common, like fuel pump.
I also see some cheap ones for sale with cylinder misfire, are there any common issue for misfires on these models, or just a whole host of possible reasons?

 

[Scottydoggs]

when your looking at any car/truck. check all its fluids, the tranny, pull the stick out, you want the color to be red/pink. if its dark brown or black. just let it go. its gonna need a tranny soon if not asap. unless its a really nice truck and you can knock the price down a lot over that.

misfire can be a lot of things, from clogged cats, bad coils, needing a tune up real bad, to a bad injector. if you have a code scanner bring it and scan for codes.

you can pretty much expect most of the belt driven accessories on the engine to be wearing out by 100,000 miles.

 

[MassHoe04]

A lot of people know how to erase active codes, but don't don't have a scanner that can go into the stored codes to delete or they don't know clearing a code won't necessarily wipe out everything in memory.

You may show up and see no CEL, because the seller cleared it. If you can dig in deeper with your scanner, you can see what the code history is and even how many miles since cleared. A decent scan tool is great to show up with! Tech 2 scan tool, even better!

You will be equipped and ready to see if someone is trying to pull a fast one just to make a quick sale or cover-up bigger issues.

If someone is willing to cover something up, they don't deserve your money.

 

[treehan77]

Suggest the newer models with electric fans

 

[Alex_M]

00-02 is what I personally prefer. They're electronically a bit simpler. Engine, transmission, axles, brakes are the same 00-06.

If electric fans are a concern, that's an easy retrofit. I put electric fans on every vehicle I own to replace the mechanical fans.

All that said, 02-06 are still great trucks and I would (and have) owned them.

The biggest thing is finding one that's been well cared for. If you can get service history with it that's a major bonus. In those year models, the transmissions are all 4l60e's. I've seen them go out at 100k miles, I've seen them last 250k+ miles. I replaced the '60e in my Tahoe at 280k miles. It all depends on how the truck was driven and cared for. Mine was daily driven the first 17 years of it's life, mostly highway miles, by the guy that bought it new. Around 200k is fairly typical if it's not been abused but it has been used to tow some.

Engines can last a long time. Long long time. There are some running around with 400k+ miles on them. My personal just clicked over 300k and still makes 65psi of oil pressure running down the road. Very happy motor long as I let it warm up for a minute or so.

If you can find one that has hydrostatic brakes, that is a killer system. My old Z71 Tahoe had them and my current 2500 work truck has them. I intend to retrofit my current Tahoe as well.

There's not a lot of bad in these trucks. The biggest thing is finding one without much rust. You may decide to find one that the trans is already going out in at a really good price and have a *reputable* transmission shop rebuild one for you, if you have one around. I'd be willing to travel to find a really good trans shop. Ask local race shops where they recommend rebuilding 4l60e's if you decide to go that route. Alternatively you can order a trans from a big name rebuilder (Gearstar for example) and have a regular garage install it.

A big indicator of trans health is the color of the trans fluid. If it's brown it's been hot. If it's bright bright red it's recently changed. If it's mostly red it's probably old but the trans has probably not been abused. Wipe it on a white paper towel off the dipstick to look at it. If it has fresh new trans fluid in it and it still drives well, that does at least tell you that there's still material on all the clutches. If a '60e is badly worn and you replace the trans fluid then it will sometimes never move again. The old clutch material suspended in the fluid is sometimes all that's keeping a badly worn trans moving.

That's about all I've got. Ask if you've got questions. The trans is the only real weak point of these year models, but the '60e is still a good trans. I've built several of them and I use them well above their original intent, so don't be afraid of them. Just look for the warning signs. Most of these trucks are high mileage now.

 

[Teamiez]

I vote for the 00-02 models, as stated above less electrical stuff to go wrong, I believe in 2003 they changed to a whole new harness and what not? I could be wrong. But in my eyes 2003-2006 is where they started to cheap out on little things such as floor & glove box lights and also changed the interior style up a bit. These SUVS are getting old so I am sure most will have there own problems that can be addressed if bought at the right price. I wouldn’t mind doing some work if the body and frame was rust free, Atleast where I live in Western NY aka salt heaven.

 

[BatsTDK]

If you can find one that has hydrostatic brakes, that is a killer system. My old Z71 Tahoe had them and my current 2500 work truck has them. I intend to retrofit my current Tahoe as well.

Do you mean Hydro-Boost?

 

[Alex_M]

Do you mean Hydro-Boost?

Doh! Yeah. I've got tractors on the brain.

 

[MassHoe04]

00-02 is what I personally prefer. They're electronically a bit simpler. Engine, transmission, axles, brakes are the same 00-06.

If electric fans are a concern, that's an easy retrofit. I put electric fans on every vehicle I own to replace the mechanical fans.

All that said, 02-06 are still great trucks and I would (and have) owned them.

The biggest thing is finding one that's been well cared for. If you can get service history with it that's a major bonus. In those year models, the transmissions are all 4l60e's. I've seen them go out at 100k miles, I've seen them last 250k+ miles. I replaced the '60e in my Tahoe at 280k miles. It all depends on how the truck was driven and cared for. Mine was daily driven the first 17 years of it's life, mostly highway miles, by the guy that bought it new. Around 200k is fairly typical if it's not been abused but it has been used to tow some.

Engines can last a long time. Long long time. There are some running around with 400k+ miles on them. My personal just clicked over 300k and still makes 65psi of oil pressure running down the road. Very happy motor long as I let it warm up for a minute or so.

If you can find one that has hydrostatic brakes, that is a killer system. My old Z71 Tahoe had them and my current 2500 work truck has them. I intend to retrofit my current Tahoe as well.

There's not a lot of bad in these trucks. The biggest thing is finding one without much rust. You may decide to find one that the trans is already going out in at a really good price and have a *reputable* transmission shop rebuild one for you, if you have one around. I'd be willing to travel to find a really good trans shop. Ask local race shops where they recommend rebuilding 4l60e's if you decide to go that route. Alternatively you can order a trans from a big name rebuilder (Gearstar for example) and have a regular garage install it.

A big indicator of trans health is the color of the trans fluid. If it's brown it's been hot. If it's bright bright red it's recently changed. If it's mostly red it's probably old but the trans has probably not been abused. Wipe it on a white paper towel off the dipstick to look at it. If it has fresh new trans fluid in it and it still drives well, that does at least tell you that there's still material on all the clutches. If a '60e is badly worn and you replace the trans fluid then it will sometimes never move again. The old clutch material suspended in the fluid is sometimes all that's keeping a badly worn trans moving.

That's about all I've got. Ask if you've got questions. The trans is the only real weak point of these year models, but the '60e is still a good trans. I've built several of them and I use them well above their original intent, so don't be afraid of them. Just look for the warning signs. Most of these trucks are high mileage now.

I am still learning, so I'll ask...
You mentioned your Z71 had hydroboost brakes. Did all Z71 have hydroboost system or just some?

 

[OR VietVet]

Having owned an 02 LT and loved it, I love my 05 Z71 even more. By 05 and 06, bugs had been worked out.

 

[MassHoe04]

I am still learning, so I'll ask...
You mentioned your Z71 had hydroboost brakes. Did all Z71 have hydroboost system or just some?

Still not sure if every Z71 automatically included this or not, but I looked at my RPO sticker and found my Z71 did come with Hydroboost from the factory.

"JH2 BRAKE - HYD POWER, DISC/DISC, 7,200 LBS" was listed on the sticker inside the glove box.

 

[OR VietVet]

My 05 Z71 has hydroboost brakes and am glad it does. Way better feel. I have a friend with 05 LS and she has hydroboost too.

 

[davidbeaver1]

I had an 01 Yukon XL we purchased with 70K and drove it to 330K, both my boys learned how to drive in it and we took many trips across the country in it. I then used it as my pickup truck until we sold it to a neighbor who is still using it today. We never replaced the transmission, but did replace the transfer case once, a bearing went bad on the inside and beat a hole in the side of the case allowing all of the oil to leak out. Other than that, there was general maintenance along the way and front and rear main seals as well. It was a beast and we loved it.
I now have an 05 Tahoe that is my daily driver with 154k on it and going strong. When I purchased it, I put around $2K in it doing a lot of what everyone else on here has said, I did new brakes and calipers, upgraded the fronts to the GMT900's, new pulleys and belt, some AC repairs including a couple actuators in the front and back, new shocks, new hoses, new steering wheel buttons (just to get the backlights working), new radio face, new driver seat bottom, WeatherTech floor mats, paint correction, painted the dash, etc. But now I have a very nice daily driver that should be good to go for another 150K, and all less than $10K. I don't think there is a better SUV value out there because they will run forever and parts are cheap...
I agree, the older ones are less electronic, but are getting harder to find a lower mileage one. I personally like the 05-06 models because they had conveniences like steering wheel controls, triple climate controls, heated seat backs, turn signals in the side view mirrors, adjustable pedals, etc.

 

[mountie]

Bring or hire your friend/mechanc to check it out, again, with you.

I had my mechanic check out my '05 Yukon XL, w/140,00 .... ( It was also up on a lift when he checked)..

It was very very clean, and he gave it a 'thumbs-up'.....

 

[OR VietVet]

My 05 just turned 140k miles 200 miles ago. Still idles at 40 psi oil pressure. Runs strong with absolutely no quirks. I have done so many stock upgrades to make it the most dependable 05 on the road and can be seen in my build thread. I will be putting close to 4k miles on it in the next month or so. I anticipate absolutely no problems between here in Oregon, down to Paradise, Ca. and back here and then to Warrensburg, Mo. and the to Fort Worth, Tx. and then back to Oregon. I plan to keep a log of fuel mileage the whole way and will report what grade fuel I use along the way and anything else I think should be shared here.

 

[Logan5]

I look for 05-06 when I go browsing. My 05 Tahoe is almost at 200k now and I am going NY -> CA and back next month. I'm not expecting any troubles (excepting maybe gas riots).
I've been doing regular upgrades and maintenance on the truck as well (recently got a new tranny) and I am confident nothing will happen, but, I also don't want to jinx myself so every state I pass through I stop and sacrifice a chicken to the voodoo car gods. (at KFC)

 

[MassHoe04]

I had an 01 Yukon XL we purchased with 70K and drove it to 330K, both my boys learned how to drive in it and we took many trips across the country in it. I then used it as my pickup truck until we sold it to a neighbor who is still using it today. We never replaced the transmission, but did replace the transfer case once, a bearing went bad on the inside and beat a hole in the side of the case allowing all of the oil to leak out. Other than that, there was general maintenance along the way and front and rear main seals as well. It was a beast and we loved it.
I now have an 05 Tahoe that is my daily driver with 154k on it and going strong. When I purchased it, I put around $2K in it doing a lot of what everyone else on here has said, I did new brakes and calipers, upgraded the fronts to the GMT900's, new pulleys and belt, some AC repairs including a couple actuators in the front and back, new shocks, new hoses, new steering wheel buttons (just to get the backlights working), new radio face, new driver seat bottom, WeatherTech floor mats, paint correction, painted the dash, etc. But now I have a very nice daily driver that should be good to go for another 150K, and all less than $10K. I don't think there is a better SUV value out there because they will run forever and parts are cheap...
I agree, the older ones are less electronic, but are getting harder to find a lower mileage one. I personally like the 05-06 models because they had conveniences like steering wheel controls, triple climate controls, heated seat backs, turn signals in the side view mirrors, adjustable pedals, etc.

Search for these options may not need to be limited to looking for 05-06...

My 04 Z71 has all of those options mentioned, and everything else, except heated seats!
That is the one thing I seem to be missing.

 

[GatorBite]

I would go with an 04 with barn doors and avoid a special service vehicle. you will also get hydroboost and TPMS.

 

[OR VietVet]

The only thing I miss on my 05 is the barn doors.

 

[Merc1973]

Suggest the newer models with electric fans

Why? Those fans electric fans will not outlast a hydraulic fan clutch.

As other said, look for Hydro boost brakes. I don't have it and mine were down right scary until i upgraded to NNBS brakes. Also steering wheel radio controls were only available 03-06. If younused them before, you don't realize how nice it is to have them until you drive one without...